Meet Pano

Pano Karatassos

“My work is my hobby.I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

–Pano Karatassos

Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s charismatic founder and CEO, I. Pano Karatassos, raised Atlanta to a new level of fine dining, earning it a spot on the country’s culinary map when he opened Pano’s & Paul’s in 1979. An acclaimed chef and visionary restaurateur, Pano has grown the company to 12 locations, nine in Atlanta and three in South Florida. The success of the restaurants is a direct result of Pano's attention to detail and direct involvement – he develops the concept of each of his independent restaurants, oversees the day-to-day operations, regulates the food and personnel, and sets decor quality standards. When asked about his work, Pano has been known to reply, “My work is my hobby. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”